AFRICA. 28j 
of defperate meafures i I refolved therefore in- 
ftantly to embrace the only expedient I had to 
purfue ; which was, to abandon my third and 
laft vehicle, together with the animals that re- 
mained, to diftribute arms and ammunition 
among my people, and to proceed on foot to 
the Elephants- River with fuch of them as 
would agree to follow me. 
This plan, with whatever difficulties it might 
be attended, was apparently the only rational 
one that remained : yet, when I propofed it to 
my Hottentots, not an Individual approved of 
it. Convinced that the interruption of a jour- 
ney, which they had feen me fo anxious to 
accomplifh, muft occafion me the greateft mor- 
tification, they unanimoufly protefted that they 
would never abandon me, and that they would 
cheerfully go on with me wherever I fhould 
think proper to lead them. At the fame time 
each exhorted me to take courage, and to try my 
fortune once more, by proceeding a few leagues 
farther. Thofe who had gone in fearch of 
water towards the eaft aflured me, by way of 
confolation, that there v;as a range of hills at 
the bottom of the mountains before us, and 
that the valleys between would perhaps afford 
us 
